Processing plant



April 12, 1932. w. s. YARRow PROCESSING PLANT Filed Nov. '22, 1930 2' Sheets-Sheet @ide/w12, f5 VAK/wb( April 12, 1932. w. s. YARROW PROCESSING PJAN'I Filed NOV. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 beven-rola W 5A/ARROW Pmi K ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 12, 1932 PATENT oFFicE,

WILLIAM sYDivEY'YARRowoF HARRQW, ENGLAND:

APRocnssrne PLANT Application filieanovember 22, 1.930',- seriai No. 497,564", and in Great Braam october-12.3,*'19301'V 'lhis'invention relates to aprocessing plant. .In specitication-No. 429,415, nowl Patent.

`15826;@36,.da-tediGctober 6, 1931', a processing I plantisdescribed andclaimed whichincludes 5- a; closed cylindrical chamber and a revolving drum in the chamber carrying a plurality of.

channelsparallel withthe axis thereof located between'- the-,drum andthe chamber,. andf'is` chanacterized by a plurality of spaced ribs,4

: nectin'gitliel severallseruies .of cages, `said chan-- nel bei-ngzjny alignment. with anvinlet. and a-n outlet fon the chamber, means for rotating the drum step` byv step corresponding to'y the'. spacing of thecagesaroundrthe drum wheres.v

en by.; at: each step-the drumis brought to rest and an articlemay be fed through the inlet; intOfthe'channel, the; articlesin the. cages in'.

t-hechannel. each `displaced to the cage. in the neX-t respectivefseries andthe-article in the:

cagein the. channel in the last series dis.- charged. v

In the. aforesaid patents thereis .also described and claimedintermittently actuated? meansoperating; when the -drumis at rest for cageot the channel v of the last series..

member.: is provided `with prongs spacedy according to ythe locatingribs oli-'thev chamber for simultaneously engaging each of the .arm ticles in the channel to laterally displacerthe articles toythe eageof` the next series, andf` causing thefart-icle inthe last seriestorbe dise charged.V y

.The-objectief thev present invention.- istor 4'5" provide ang improved and'v simplifiedformaof apparatusOr conveying the Aarticles through. the chamber whichV eliminates the necessityV ot separately. synchronized operatingi partsv for feeding the articles into the chamber..

.n The present lnventionis aniimprovement conveying each ofthe articles in thev channel'V to thecagefof thenext respective series inthe'- chan-nel andfor feed-ing anew article to the: channel and for discharging the article in theV The aforesaid patentlal'so describes' and: claims a-construct'ion 1n which :the'conveyingy in or"m'odiicati'on. of the' invention. disclosed inV PatentY 1,826,036an'd= consists in; constructs? ing theconveying member in the form of am endless conveyor, the conveyor beingr asso'-y ciated.- wit-lrV feeding landi discharge boxes whereby the conveyor actually teeds,. pas-z` sages anddischarges the articlesto,th'rough and. from the chamber respectively..

y In preferred constructions-thev boxes/may# bel partitioned' into two compartments'7 and;V arranged; so that the lower. compartment of oneV isI in the. same plane asthe upperl com. partment of the othernv such-compartment housing sprockets for: the conveyor drive, theother? compartmentV of each beingy pre1. vided `with wheels connected for rotation. with Vrespective sprockets andeach' including spokes .between which articles are lodged; theA partitions between the compartments of each.;- boxl being-provided with openings Ywhereby articles are transferreditoand from the conveyor withoutlossl of atmosphere froinrth'el chamber. Y l lnsorder. that theA inventionmay. be clearly understoodref'erence will' nowv be made .to` the accompanying drawings which: show; by;r way ofi example a preferred embodimenttf Fig.` 1i is a central. sectional.V plany'somewhat-diagrammatically showing the endless conveyor and the boxes-associated" therewitlif for feeding and` discharging the' articles .to and-from thechamber. f

Fig; 2 is a sectional elevationon' thelines lle-Il ot Fig.. 1 showing the inletlock construct-ion involved' in the feeding box.

` Fig;I is a similar view taken on thelin'e lll-1H- oiFig.. l showingithe locli construcf tion inthe discharge box..

Fig. t is aV part. sectional end elevation to anf enlarged scale-.off Fig. l showing the Ge neva stopmechanisinse driving the conveyor;

. andthe drum respectively, afpart ofthe'end:

casing andapart offthe inlet box being out? away to show the channel through the-ribs.y

InA the" drawings like reference. numerals designatev the same or similar parts and for simplicity` of description. and understanding.

of' the invention reference letters" are emL ployedfor the chamber and Vparts thereofY which were employed to designate the similar parts in the aforementioned patent.

Referring to the drawings, the closed chamber 1 carries on the shaft 4 a plurality of wheel members 5 which are keyed thereto, and provided at intervals on the rims 12 with brackets 13 spaced apart for the reception between them of articles to be treated in the chamber.

The brackets 13 are in transverse alignment and form channels extending from end to end of the chamber, the channels being intersected by the ribs 3 carried by the wall'of the chamber, thereby forming with the brackets 13 and the rims 12 a series of cages around the periphery of the wheels 5. The shaft 4 is provided at one extremity with the tooth wheel 6 which is driven by any desired form of intermittent drive, for instance, by Geneva stop mechanism of the form shown in Fig. 4.

This mechanism comprises a slotted gear 10 on a shaft 10a andV fiXedly connected to a gear wheel 9 which, through an intermediate gear wheel 7 imparts the drive to the wheel 6. The slotted gear 10 is driven from a continuously rotating shaft M- through bevels 62, by means of a pin roll 11, on a shaft 11a the pin roll 11 engaging the slots of the gear 10 and imparting step by step motion thereto in the well known manner.

' The implement for passaging the articles through the chamber and including the prongs 24 is in the construction shown a chain conveyor 89, the prongs being spaced apart equivalent to the spacing of the ribs 3 which in the path Of the conveyor are cut away as shown in Fig. 4 to make a continuous channel CC through the chamber and a path for the prongs on the conveyor, this path containing openings 1a and 1b in the end walls 1l of the chamber as shown in Fig. 1. In the construction shown the opening 1a is the opening through which the cans C are fed and the opening V1b is the opening through which the cans are discharged.

The endless conveyor passes around sprocket wheels 90, 91, of which the former may be the driver.

vTo this end there is fixed on the spindle 92 of the driving sprocket 90 a bevel gear 93, see Figs. 2 and 4, which is driven synchronously with the gear wheel 6 which drives the wheels 5 in the chamber, that is to say, that the conveyor 89 ismoved by the driving sprocket 90 when the driving wheel 6 of the wheels 5 is at rest, and when the wheel 6 is moving the drum constituted by the wheels 5 through a step movement the wheel 93 is at rest. Y y

Conveniently the bevel 93V is intermittently driven by means of a second Geneva stop.I mechanism constituted by a slotted gear 106 driven by a pin roll 105 on the Vcontinuously rotating shaft M, and a bevel` 107 gearing with the bevel 93, the gear 106 and the bevel 107 being mounted on a sleeve 108 carried on a spigot 109 mounted on a support 110. This second Geneva mechanism is set with regard to the first Geneva stop mechanism driving the wheel 6 so that the slotted wheel of the one mechanism is moving while the other is stationary and vice versa.

The step movement applied to the conveyor is equivalent to the spacing between the brackets 13 so that between consecutive movements of the drum a channel is in register with the inlet and outlet openings 1a, 1b, and a can C can be moved from thespace between two ribs to the neXt space.

n the construction shown in the drawings, the conveyor not only passages cans through the chamber 1 and discharges a can at the same time through outlet opening 1b but it also feeds a can at the same time into the chamber through inlet opening 1a.

To this end the sprocket wheels 90 and 91 are housed in boxes 94 .and 95 respectively, the box 94 having a feeding opening 96 to which the cans are conveyed by hand or by mechanical means such as a chute or conveyor. They then fall onto a partition member 97 which divides the box into two parts. Below the partition 97 is the sprocket 90 and above is a wheel member 98 having spaces between its spokes sufficiently large to receive the cans.

The wheel 98 is fixedl to the spindle 92 of the sprocket 90 so that Yit turns with the sprocket, hence a can placed through the inlet 96 into the wheel member 98 is carried step by step through the box. The partition 97 has an opening 99 which connects the compartments on each side ofthe partition so that the can on reaching the opening 99 falls into the lower compartment and between prongs 24 of the conveyor. Thereafter it is taken by the conveyor from the box into the chamber in step by step movements.

The can having passed through the chamber iscarried by the conveyor into the discharge bo-X 95 at the other end which is similarly divided into two compartments by a partition 9 a. It will be noted that the wheel 98 is of such a thickness that it is snugly received in its respective compartment and accordingly each of the spokes acts as a closure to any communication between the chamber and outside atmosphere. y

The can arrives on the conveyor in the upper compartment of the boX 95 in which thereV is a sprocket 91 above the partition 97a which compartment is level with the lowercompartment of the box 94 and is carried'round the compartment until it arrives above the opening 99a in the partition 97a. Then it falls into the lower compartment in which is a wheel 98a similar to the wheel 98 being fixed to the spindle 92a carrying sprocket 91 which then'carries on the can to the discharge opennam-,otr

ing. 10Q-through which; the. can falls .andi1 may; bet'aken away-by achuteor conveyor.,

By such; constructions the cans` are` by mechanical means continuously fed to, passaged.v

throughV andi discharged fromV the chamber, the` construction being. suchthat there is no loss of the atmosphereA therein, the boxes. 9.41,

9.5:fbn1ningeiiicientinlet and discharge locks which prevent?V the egress of the atmosphere during ieedingand discharging operations.

In theA construction illustrated the boxes;

94, 95., aresecured tothe endwalls 1. and to plate extensions. 1.01., the extensions having openings 102 for the passage of the conveyor chain89. and the. arms 24. thereon.

In orderl that the conveyor may-move in an.

entirely closedspace, the apertures 102 are connected by a tubular member 103.

Y Bracketmembers` 104. may be interposed Jbetween. thevvall 1. of the chamber andthe end plates 101V tostrengthen the structure.

What I claim iszn l.. Apparatus for processing articles includingaclosed chamber, a drum in the chami ber, channels r'formedY onthe peripheryof the drum and longitudinally thereof, ribs formed on-thehody of the chamber intersecting said channell thereby forming a successiveseries articlesto be processed, said ribs being cut away toform a through channel in the cham ber the end-"Wallsof lthe cham-ber being cut away to provide openings registering With said channel, a.- conveying member in the ferm of an endless conveyor disposed'tor operation by said? through channel and in saidopeningszin the end Walls, arms on said conveyor extending-into V`said through channel and in spaced relation corresponding to thespacingoftheribs, means for operating'said conveyor in-termittently andlalternately With the movementsV of the drum, anda box associated'wvith the conveyor. atitheopening at one ,A end'wall, a; partition in said box formingon and'atthe other -side thereof alock for the reception of articles to be `delivered t o the con- Vey-or, said? lock including-'a rotatable member` and` said partition being provided-= with anopeningconnecting the lock and housingl whereby `articles are fed" through the lock-through Vthe partition to the conveyor and introduced by the conveyor Vinto the i chamber,

cel

` 2; In combination, a closed processing chambeira drum rotatably mounted therein, a series of channels longitudinally thereof, ribs formed on the chamber intersecting all but one of the channels thereby leaving one on said conveyor operating in said through channel in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing to said ribs, an` inlet lock to said chamber, a discharge lock in alignment there- With and With a channel and means actuating ofcages along the drumv of. al size to receiveone side thereofi ahousing for the conveyor through channel, an endless-conveyor, armsV sai dgdrum intermittently step ,by step ,torbring the channels on the drum successivelyzintoi register with said locksand means foralternately operating said'conveyor.

V3. chambera drum rotatably mounted thereiI1, a series. of: channels4 longitudinally; thereof,l ribs formed, on. thechamber intersecting all; but one of: the channelsthereby leaving; one;A

through channel, an endless conveyor,arms

conveyor, and means. actuating said drumintermittently. step by step to bring the chan.- nels 'on the drum successively into registerV With said locks and means for alternately operating' saidi conveyor. Y

4C. In combination. av closed processing: chamber, a -box coveringanopeningin each In combination a` closed= processingk 'l Siri end Wall, a sprocketl in each box, a conveyor? mounted on said sprocketmeans intermittently operating said conveyonstep-by Step, a;

drum rotatably mountedinsaidchambem ribs.;

on the Wall othe chamber extending round; said drum and: eut away in the vicinity of" theconveyor, channels in the drumA exten-d.-V ing'longitudinally thereofv intersected by Said;

ribs, arms on, the conveyor extending; into said.. channel; spaced equally withl said ribs,

means for feeding articles-to the conve-yor'f y through one of said boxes and means for discharging articles fed by the'conveyonV tothe other boxes eachsaidmeans closing. the;

paths of. feeding and. discharge; respectivelybefore andaftzer each feedingand;dischargfv ing operation; and intermittent Ydriving;means for the drum actuated alternately with theI conveyor operating means.

5. In combination a closed processing-VV chamber, Ya drum mounted forstfep lbylstep .ro. tation therein, brackets, on` said. drum arranged to i form; equal channels longitudinally thereof around the drum,` each said stepA by stepmovementzbeing equivalent to.- the vvidthot the channels, ribsgonthe Wall-of the., chamber'intersecting all'but: one o-said channels',V thereby leavingone through channel an endless. conveyor, arms forsaiden'veyor,

operatin-ginv channel Wheels, for saidfcvQn--. veyor external tosald chamber at: eachfend' thereof, a box` for 'each' said: v vheel; covering;-

' openings in. the'end. Walls ofthe'chambel'- for: said.: conveyor, horizontal; partitions; ma

saidboxes, one wheel member below the partition at the feed end and the other above the respective partition at the discharge end, a feed wheel above said partition of the box at the feed end, and a discharge wheel below said partition of the box at the discharge end, a communication between the compartments in each said boxes through the respective partition each said wheel member clos-- ing the path from said processing chamber through said partition, and means for actuating said conveyor step by step equivalent to the spacing of the ribs alternately with the movements of said drum.

G. A closed cylindrical process chamber, a coaxial drum mounted for rotation therein, channels formed longitudinally on the drum between the drum and wall of the chamber, ribs on the chamber wall intersecting all but one of said channels, an endless conveyor located in the cut awa-y portions of said ribs and passing through the end walls of the chamber, arms in the conveyor spaced according to the ribs and extending towards the drum and locks associated with the conveyor as it passes through the vend wall permitting the entry and exit of articles to and from the chamber on the conveyor wit-hout establishing communication between the interior of the chamber and external atmosphere.

7. A closed cylindrical process chamber, a coaxial drum mounted for rotation therein, channels formed longitudinally on the drum between the drum and wall of the chamber,

ribs on the chamber wall intersecting all but one of said channels, an endless conveyor located in the cut away portions of said ribs and Vpassing through the end walls ofv the chamber, arms in the conveyor spaced according to the ribs and extending towards the drum and locks associated with the conveyor as it passes through the end wall permitting the entry and exit of articles to and from the chamber on the conveyor without establislr ing communication between the interior of the chamber and external atmosphere, a conduit externally of said chamber connecting said locks whereby a closed path for the conveyor is obtained.

8. A closed cylindrical process chamber, a coaxial drum mounted for rotation therein, channels longitudinally on the drum between the drum and wall of the chamber, ribs on the chamber wall intersecting all but one of said channels, an endless conveyor located in the cut away portions of said ribs, and between the channels and chamber wall, arms on the conveyor spaced according to said ribs and extending towards the drum, said conveyor passing through the end walls of the chamber driving means for the conveyor external to the chamber, locks associated with the conveyor at each end wall, feeding means for the articles through the lock at one end to the conveyor, and discharge means for the articles from the conveyor through the lock at the other end and means for actuating the drum and conveyor step by step alternatively.

9. A closed cylindrical process chamber, a coaxial drum mounted for rotation therein, channels formed longitudinally on the drum between the drum and wall of the chamber, ribs on the chamber wall intersecting all but one of said channels, an endless chain located in the cut away portions of said ribs and passing through the end walls of the chamber, arms on the chain spaced according to the ribs and extending towards the drum, locks associated with the chain at the entry and exit end of the chamber, sprockets for said chain at each end thereof, a housing for each said sprocket integral with said lock respectively, a wheel member in each lock for feeding article-s in the lock to the chain at the inlet end and from the chain through the lock at the exit end, said wheels closing the path for gases from said chamber through said locks and means for rotating said drum and moving said conveyor step by step alternately. 1

l0. A closed cylindrical process chamber, a coaxial drum mounted for rotation therein, channels `formed longitudinally on the drum between the drum and wall of the chamber, ribs on the chamber wall intersecting all but one of said channels, a chain conveyor located in the cut away portion of said ribs in passing through the end walls of the chamber, arms on the conveyor spaced according to the ribs and extending towards the drum, apertured extensions to the end walls of said chamber, locks associated with the conveyor at the ent-ry and exit end of the chamber secured to said end walls and extensions, sprockets for-said conveyor at each end thereof, a housing for said sprocket integral with said lock respectively, a wheel member in each lock for feeding articles in the lock to the conveyor at the inlet end and from the conveyor through the lock at the exit end, said wheels closing the path for gases from said chamber through said locks, and a conduit for said 4conveyor between said apertured extensionsA connecting the sprocket housing at the feed end with the sprocket housing at the discharge end of the chamber whereby'a closed path for the conveyor obtains and means for rotating said drum and moving said conveyor step by step alternately.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

lVlLLIAM SYDNEY YARROVV. 

